Filling yarn mixing mechanism



May 20, 1969 R. H. BROWN, JR

FILLING YARN MIXING MECHANISM Sheet Filed May 29, 1967 INVENTOR RALPH HBROWN JR.

ATTORNEY May 20, 1969 R. H. BROWN, JR

FILLING YARN MIXING MECHANISM Sheet 3 of3 Filed May 29, 1967 f ij/ Sheet of 5 y 1969 R. H. BROWN, JR

FILLING YARN MIXING MECHANISM Filed May 29. 1967 h l 17% 5% LI- w l w I NVENTOR RALPH H. BROWN JR- ZIM (4 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,444,899 FILLING YARN MIXING MECHANISM Ralph H. Brown, Jr., Hopedale, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to John Donald Marshall and Horace L.

Bomar as trustees of The Carolina Patent Development Trust Filed May 29. 1967, Ser. No. 641,871 Int. Cl. D03d 47/08 US. Cl. 139-122 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention The invention relates to shuttleless looms wherein filling yarn is inserted into separate sheds of war-p threads in pairs of interconnected picks by means of reciprocating flexible yarn carrying elements.

The average of filling yarn varies from one package to another, that is to say, the filling yarn of one package may have a softer or even tighter twist than that of another which stems from the preparatory stages of its spinning.

Additionally package dyed filling yarns that are wound under slightly greater tension than the recommended amount oftentimes do not get complete penetration of color resulting in portions thereof being of a lighter shade.

Filling variations of this nature will produce a distinct line or bar in the fabric when changing from a nearly exhausted package to one fully wound. Such fabric is not considered first quality and normally has to be cut along this bar or line to make it acceptable. Basically the object of weaving with filling yarns drawn from two separate sources of supply is for the purpose of mixing non-uniform yarns to obtain a uniform overall appearance of the fabric.

The mixing of filling yarns is also desirable for other purposes such as obtaining certain patterned effects in the fabric wherein alternate changes in color may be introduced or alternately inserting yarns of two different sizes.

The filling yarn mixing mechanism and method of the present invention functions in cooperation with the conventional single thread cutter and binder device and includes a means for alternately moving one yarn and then the other to and away from a position which alternately places them in the path of the conventional yarn depressor.

As is well known to those conversant with this art, the yarn depressor serves to position the filling yarn for pick up by the inserting carrier member.

Weaving on shuttleless looms in the manner described wherein filling yarn is drawn from a single source of supply and inserted in the form of interconnected picks into separate warp sheds is shown and described in certain United States patents and for a detailed description of the construction and mode of operation of such looms, attention is hereby directed to Patents 2,604,123, 2,604,124 and 2,654,399.

Forms of selective filling mechanisms for shuttleless looms are shown and described in US. patent applications, Serial Nos. 460,380 and 621,168 to T. S. Higgins 3,444,899 Patented May 20, 1969 et al., filed June 1, 1965, and March 7, 1967, and 683,183 to R. H. Brown, Jr., filed April 24, 1967.

Summary of the invention The filling yarn mixing mechanism according to the present invention includes a pair of yarn positioner members disposed in close proximity and pivotably assembled on a single vertically extending stud.

By a control means which includes a pair of continually rotating cam elements and cooperating linkage arm followers the dictates of said cams are transmitted to the yarn positioner members. The motion transmitted through the linkage arm followers is effective in alternately moving each of the yarn positioner members between their active and inactive positions.

Each of the yarn positioner members supports and guides a separate filling yarn that is drawn from a supply individual thereto and by alternately presenting the yarns for insertion into the warp sheds the non-uniformity of said yarns is distributed over greater fabric area to give a uniform appearance thereof.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the righthand side of a loom showing the filling yarn mixing mechanism according to the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism in FIG. 1 showing the means for rotating the cam elements and the manner in which they are adapted to cooperate with the linkage arm followers;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lower yarn positioner member in its active position and the upper in its inactive position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing further detail of the link-age arm followers and the yarn positioner members in opposite positions; and

FIG. 5 is a view in diagram form showing the manner of forming fabric by interconnected picks of filling yarn drawn from two separate sources of supply.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawing wherein only as much of conventional loom structure is depicted as is necessary to a complete understanding of the invention, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a filling control housing generally indicated by numeral 10. This housing is mounted in the usual manner on the upper right-hand side of the loom and in contiguous relation with the right-hand end of the breast beam 11.

A lay beam 12 extends between the loom frames (not shown) and supports a reed 13 through which the warp threads 14 are adapted to pass.

A filling inserting carrier 15 is shown in FIG. 1 and is fixedly attached to the end of a flexible tape '16 which moves through a tape guide 17 and which is wrapped about and unwrapped from a tape Wheel supported within a housing 18 disposed at the side of the loom.

A filling control cam shaft 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is supported for rotation within the filling control housing 10 and the ends thereof are journaled in the usual bearings supported within housings 20 (one only shown).

The cam shaft 19 supports among other parts a cutter cam 21 which is fixed to rotate with said cam shaft and 'by means of a follower 22 a spring biased cutter rod 23 is caused to reciprocate to activate the conventional filling cutter and gripper device partially shown and generally indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by numeral 24.

The cutter rod 23 is supported by a filling cutter bracket 25 (FIGS. 1 and 4) the latter of which is fixedly attached to the side of the filling control housing 10 by means of cap screws 26.

The inner end of the cutter rod 23 supports the conventional second pick positioner which is identified generally in FIGS. 3 and 4 by numeral 2 7 and includes the usual horn 28 movable therewith for positioning the filling yarn that will form the second half of an interconnected pick.

The means for presenting for insertion and guiding of two separate filling yarns from independent sources of supply will now be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second pick positioner 27 includes a cylindrical portion 29 which serves as a means for its attachment to the cutter rod 23. The upper surface of this cylindrical portion 29 is provided with an adapter 30 fixed thereon and movable therewith.

The threaded end of a vertically extending bolt 31 assembles within the adapter 30 and the shank portion of said bolt supports for pivotable movement upper and lower actuating levers 32 and 33 (FIGS. 3 and 4). These actuating levers extend in a forward direction from bolt 31 and are assembled in spaced relation on the latter by means of a spacer 34 disposed therebetween.

Intermediate the ends of the filling cutter bracket 25 and on the upper surface thereof there is provided a tapped hole (not shown) which is adapted to receive the threaded end of a cap screw 35 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Assembled for pivotable movement on cap screw 35 there is provided upper and lower linkage arm followers 36 and 37 which are disposed in spaced relation by means of a spacer 38 assembled therebetween. A check nut 39 serves to fixedly position the cap screw 35 and the linkage arm followers 36 and 37 pivot on the shank portion thereof while performing their intended function.

These linkage arm followers 36 and 37 are disposed in a horizontal plane and their pivot points on cap screw 35 are positioned at points adjacent the center of the longitudinal extent thereof. Those ends of the linkage arm followers most remote from the filling control housing are adapted to engage the sides of the actuating levers 32 and 33. As shown in FIG. 1 this end of the upper linkage arm follower 36 is positioned to engage the side of the upper actuating lever 32 and the lower engages the lower actuating lever 33.

Both actuating levers 32 and 33 are spring biased in a direction which maintains them in contact with their respective linkage arm followers. A pair of coil springs 39 provides this biasing force by being attached at one end to the levers 32 and 33 and at their opposite ends to the upper portion of a filling guide support 40 as shown in FIG. 1.

The opposite ends of the linkage arm followers 36 and 37 terminate in laterally extending foot portions 41 and 42, respectively (FIGS. 1 and 2), which serve as cam followers by maintaining contact with the outer periphery of cams 43 and 44.

These cams are fixed on a vertically extending shaft 45 and being of like configuration, are assembled in spaced and diametrically opposed relation on said shaft.

Shaft 45 is supported for rotation in suitable bearing members with the upper bearing only being shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 which is depicted by numeral 46. This bearing is housed in a bearing bracket 47 that is fixedly attached to and interconnects the upper portions of a pair of spaced and vertically extending plate-like support members 48 and 49.

Shaft 45 is caused to rotate by means of a helical gear 50 (FIG. 2) that is fixed on said shaft intermediate cams 43 and 44. A second helical gear 51 is in driving relation with gear 50 and is fixed on a horizontal shaft 52 the ends of which are journaled in bearing members 53 and 54 that are supported in opposed relation in the plate-like members 48 and 49', respectively.

A sprocket 55 is fixedly assembled on shaft 52 adjacent to gear 51 and by means of an endless link chain 56 it is in driving relation with a second sprocket 57 that is assembled on and caused to rotate with the cam shaft 4 19. Sprocket 57 is positioned immediately adjacent to the cutter cam 21 on cam shaft 19 and through its driving connection with sprocket 55, gear members 50 and 51 are rotated to effect anti-clockwise rotation of shaft 45 as seen looking from the top thereof.

Cams 43 and 44 rotate with shaft 45 and the high portions of each cam, being diametrically disposed relative to the other, are effective in alternately pivoting the linkage arm followers 36 and 37 on their supporting cap screw 35 so as to cause alternate pivoting of the actuating levers 32 and 33.

The actuating levers 32 and 33 being pivotably mounted on the second pick positioner 27 are caused to reciprocate to and fro therewith. On the for-ward movement of the second pick positioner whichever lever has been caused to pivot by its respective linkage arm follower will engage a yarn positioner member individual thereto and pivot it to a position to place its yarn in an active position. A vertically extending stud 58 is fixed to the upper surface of the second pick positioner in spaced relation to bolt 31 and serves to limit the pivotable movement of the actuating levers 32 and 33.

The filling cutter bracket 25 is provided with an integrally formed and laterally extending lug 59 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and by means of a vertically extending stud 60 fixed thereto a means is provided for pivotably supporting a pair of yarn positioner members generally indicated by numerals 61 and 62.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these yarn positioner members are positioned one above the other and include hub portions 63 and 64 through which stud 60 is adapted to extend.

Each of these hub portions includes an arm that extends in a generally downward direction which are positioned in close proximity, but with sufficient clearance to permit individual pivotal movement of one past the other. The arm of the upper yarn positioner member 61 is identified by numeral '65 and that of the lower by numeral 66. The lower ends of the arms 65 and 66 are provided with arcuated yarn fingers 67 and 68, respectively, which are adjustably attached at one end to their respective arms by means of screws 69 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The opposite ends of the yarn fingers 67 and 68 are provided with apertures or eyelets 70 and 71 and each is adapted to support and guide separate filling yarns from independent sources of supply. The yarn guided through eyelet 70 is identified by the letter and numeral Y1 and the yarn in eyelet 71 by Y2.

The two separate yarns Y1 and Y2 extend from their independent source of supply (not shown), through a guide plate 71 having spaced eyelets 72 and 73 and thence through the conventional friction plate arrangement 74. From the friction plate arrangement the yarns are separated by a pair of horizontally disposed and vertically aligned guide pins 75 and 76 and are then caused to extend through the eyelets of their respective yarn fingers where they are alternately selected in a man:

ner to be more fully described.

The hub portions 63 and 64 of the yarn positioner members 61 and 62 are each provided with a torsion spring 77 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) which continually urge said yarn positioner members toward their inactive position that places the arms 65 and 66 thereof in contact with an L- shaped stop bracket 78.

One leg of this stop bracket assembles on the upper end of stud 60 by means of a nut 79 and washers 80 and the second leg thereof extends downwardly and adjacent the hubs of the yarn positioner members 61 and 62.

In addition to arms 65 and 66, the hub portions 63 and 64 of the yarn positioner members are each provided with integrally formed and radially extending lug elements that are identified in FIG. 1 by numerals 81 and 82, respectively. Each of these lug elements is provided with a depending roller member 83 (one only shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) which are adapted to be alternately engaged by the actuating levers 32 and 33 when the latter are pivoted as heretofore described and on the forward movement of the second pick positioner 2.7.

One or the other of the actuating levers 32 and 33 is caused to pivot by the linkage arm follower individual thereto when the second pick positioner is in its rearmost position and as the latter moves forwardly the selected lever will contact its respective roller member 83 and pivot the yarn positioner member of. which it forms a part in an anti-clockwise direction as seen looking from the top thereof. This movement will swing the arcuated yarn finger of the selected yarn positioner member from its inactive to active position.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the alternate positions of the arcuated yarn fingers 67 and 68. FIG. 3 shows yarn finger 68 in its active position which places its yarn Y2 in the proper location to be acted upon by the usual yarn depressor '84. FIG. 4 shows the subsequent selection which places yarn finger '68 in an inactive position and finger 67 in the active position where its yarn Y1 is then in the proper location to be acted upon by the yarn depressor B4.

In operation, the arcuated yarn fingers 67 and 68 are caused alternately to move their respective filling yarns Y1 and Y2 between active and inactive positions which enables the insertion of two separate yarns into separate sheds in the form of interconnected picks.

When yarn finger 67 presents its yarn Y1 to active position the end thereof is either being held at the cloth selvage and supported by the filling guide support 40 and second pick positioner 27 or said end is being held by the filling cutter and gripper device 24.

In the first case the yarn is positioned to insert the second half of an interconnected pick or so-called hairpin and when held by the cutter and gripper device is positioned for inserting the first half of a hairpin.

Yarn finger 68 functions in a like manner and when either yarn finger is in the inactive position its yarn is extending through the area of the second pick positioner and is supported by the filling guide support 40.

To describe the formation of fabric formed by two different yarns as shown in FIG. 5, assume that yam finger 67 is in active position with its yarn Y1 being held by the cutter and gripper device 24. This puts yarn finger 68 in the inactive position and its yarn is out of reach of the yarn depressor 84 and extending to the fabric selvage it is supported by the second pick positioner and filling guide support as described above.

The yarn depressor then pulls yarn Y1 downwardly to a position where it is picked up by the inserting carrier and carried as a loop into the warp shed. When the carrier has traveled a predetermined distance and has drawn sufficient yarn to complete a pick said yarn is released by the cutter and gripper device and the end of yarn is drawn through the shed in a known manner to complete the first half of a hairpin. At this time the yarn fingers reverse their positions to place yarn finger 68 in active position and yarn Y1 is then out of reach of the yarn depressor 84.

Yarn Y2 is then presented to the carrier which inserts this yarn into the shed in the form of a loop and after said carrier has traveled a predetermined distance and drawn sufficient yarn the yarn will have left the second pick positioned and filling guide support and will be moving through the area of the cutter and gripper device. As the second pick positioner moves forwardly yarn Y2 is cut and held and the severed end is drawn through the shed to complete the second half of a hairpin with this yarn. It is to be understood that the first half of the yarn Y2 hairpin was inserted one pick before the first half of the yarn Y1 hairpin described above.

After inserting the second half of a hairpin with the yarn Y2 the following pick must be formed with the same yarn that is being held by the cutter and gripper device 24 and this yarn then forms the first half of the next hairpin of yarn Y2.

At this point the position of the yarn fingers is again reversed which places yarn Y1 in active position and said yarn is inserted as the second half of the first mentioned first half hairpin formed by yarn Y1.

The next pick will then be made with yarn Y1 again to form the first half of a next hairpin and the cycle repeats itself with yarn Y2 before yarn Y1 is again introduced to complete the second half of said next hairpin.

Each pick of yarn is inserted into a separate shed and two picks of each yarn are introduced before changing to the other. The adjacent picks from the same yarn are not interconnected with one another but are connected with picks of the same yarn formed immediately before and after two picks of the other yarn positioned at each side of said adjacent picks.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention andthe scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a shuttleless loom of the type wherein filling yarn is inserted individually into separate sheds of warp threads in pairs of interconnected picks by means of reciprocating carrier means, a filling yarn mixing mechanism for individual and alternate selection of two different filling yarns each of which is drawn from an independent source of supply which comprises (a) yarn cutter and binder mechanism alternately and individually effective upon said two different filling yarns whereby one said yarn is always being held by said binder mechanism,

(b) a pair of pivotable yarn positioner members, one for each of said filling yarns for separately guiding the latter from their source of supply,

(c) control means including a pair of rotating cam members effective upon said yarn positioner members for alternate movements thereof between active and inactive positions, and

(d) a pair of pivotable linkage arm followers for transmitting the dictates of said cam members to said yarn positioner members.

In a shuttleless loom of the type wherein filling yarn s inserted individually into separate sheds of warp threads in pairs of interconnected picks by means of reciprocating carrier means, the method of alternately introducing filllng yarn from two different sources of supply from the same side of the loom which comprises the steps of (a) inserting into a shed of warp yarns the first half of a first pair of interconnected picks from a first source of supply,

(b) holding the first inserted half of the pick by the shed of Warp threads,

(c) inserting two subsequent picks drawn from the other of said sources of supply and which picks are not connected one with the other, and

(d) inserting a following pick with filling yarn drawn from said first source of supply to complete the second half of said first pair of interconnected picks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,692 6/ 1934 Benjamin. 2,749,946 6/1956 Pfarrwaller 139-126 FOREIGN PATENTS 223,951 3 1958 Australia. 1,299,032 6/ 1962 France.

HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner. 

